. fois 7 oreign ne of the ‘hin fms ee : ; 


inerien, 


: KETC ae Q 
Tor ARCOT MISSION, 
INDIA. 


REV. J. H. WYCKOFF. 


NEW YORK: 
_ PUBLISHED BY THE BOARD. 
1886, : 


Stations of any 


ISS2o07mwSs 


40 20 


2s 30 


Ratlways- ewe =®ee ee 
Wagon Roads: 


Seale: 34 milestoan Ineh. 


40 


rp pWes 


a a@& 


Tuermk uy, 


W. M.S, 


rCoasl Lag», 


hn eee Sn ° ‘ mee £0° Ne2lore || ee 
78\" » R719 ; 
Gu a8 “Am.Baptaah Inission. 
Map of a ear i Ns . ira Mhisston. | 
\ “- 
e eS ” ek “, AS Ou) rs 
The Ar cor Miss On. Kadiri. ES [Baas gPatampet Gi tniheog 7 ( sable dy 
s ? kon ieee one tr eee A ke il 
14 wal v ch qPe hh z »Nalekers. SGalived~s;—. = tis, er, ad ia 5 Ne py" 
) — Ny 
Ana Its Urrouncdings, 5 : cae. 9, oSundapale. pe, | \ 
Wlectre 6O 6éVernhalagirt, 
| y we Hpalle. * HLM \ 
Boundar? es of The eae wt of “Kasanun ‘ Pry ara 
| Areo TIMission } hor Po] Gurramkonda: Lk cc Re K tp ‘ Na 
Q XN a +. H 
n " Gundlur, ng . K aur. roma 
Missron Stations: ———— : oMelcheruvu <7, ar b Ka lest ri- 
Out Stations « WW. \ soot 


Opulreddipalie. Kaiki A 
Cbenedasealie fi 
See 


i Madanapalle. 


SS 


°Bomaladoadi Golla a: HLM. a 
OBerderapalle. a a m a Agrare 
Tadigolu, »Kotta Kola. i Pre tury 8 
Ramasamudra oPennumur.\,— § ,Nanaver 
. % Nada 
oPapanapalle:- Ray hada Ty Kee rs x x 5! 
Kalpalte. » olf lpatla , Tas, g 9 aru40 
7 é A Chittoor. LS 
“A Nange??: es RPP ENS. Bassapalli. ; Tritante ae te 
1 < Kot¥a pare: ° Gellamecias: Sholingur * q Konan Eon 
Golar. sanpall®: q Mavanalhapeers , =e a eo =e oo 
OB p Mulwage?. Etuntangat. Bn a Madras MRarilway Poonumulees 


Keo cluppatun o | Per Le, | Pen uUpPpam 
Bele { petit Se ¥er pater i t elute eae ven mission, 


dran an el 


; @ . 
Kavarepqk. 


Ce Aaa d aoe ; is ~ on oVellanzbi ik Gonjrvarhm 
A nemncanMerhodrgts Kupans® r\ AmurgF Sn eee 0 Sanganepursmi « Free('h. 
ra Kansai, e Kq i Murkolam. oCkennalur. - vA Pars <9 
aS ad : P 
id Cheranive y 2) 
” o “eg 4c ry. an gvania bad, oe fh dene Kem. ore 
S € 
~ eoChinnapatam. “4 oo S. zg ec a Retoa” x APtiur 


Ap eeer ds Hidirs. 


a ok 


Kishangtre! 


Daradmp uri 


Nolcanbio 
Qhancdicm° 
Yeyiro 
Pariantangal. 
attambadi 


& Ma eleyanur’. ca 


©  Pudupattats & 
— Palral: ‘ s 
Denisnlktheran qapaneseamactsn ° 
Mission Mayemeah, sKen gs 
Mandak eet: 
ace Ainute —-— ree ro eee: 


Vananigalie” Kelapakary) 5 Puget: 


dan vands. 
KakkanAale & Grate ef * pVikrevane}s 


Vaya ie 


Vallrepu rar. ess 


. Arulnodu. eTellar. 


°} Damanur ur 


rls 


f Diondichery, 


L : cai 
¥ Leipsie Lultheraz, \. Be (Freneh) 
Tirukovalur, h PR cS "ete 
; nul. ny ai 
Danish Lutherdn Mission —T wo ORS 


udc alore. 
Leips ig Luk Reran 


Mission. 
"S.RIG. mission 


: e 
Virdachellarm.o ; 


Rev. J. CHAMBERLAIN, D.D., FeciT. 


eee + pterte ener on) <r 
> @ + ar Y', Me 
, . 


sinter rea 


Pare 
hore 
Weas s 


ra We, 
a 


her 
, 


4 


=O' 


7 » ne > 
he £4 a 


es uewies toatllaain~ pena — > 


alee oe Ce gh tg HA ore 


& ms ayaheaneete 
« aaa fal Vinge 


ie 


Ses ianaaes peer 


bs 


der 
-¢ 


ie 


ee 


- aicnicah Gaees 


SKEDGhILOR 


Eee wR COP NISSTON: 


BY THE REV. J. H. WYCKOFF. 


LOCATION AND EXTENT OF FIELD. 
Britisx Inpra is divided for political purposes into 
Presidencies; the Presidencies are divided into Dis- 
tricts; the Districts subdivided into Taluks or Coun- 
ties, and each county composed of a certain number 
of villages. Our Mission is called the Arcot Mission, 
because it occupies chiefly the Arcot District of the 
Madras Presidency, which forms the southern portion 
of the peninsula of India. The Mission field embraces 
the whole of the North Arcot, two counties of the 
South Arcot, and three counties of the Cuddapah 
Districts, together with the adjacent portions of the 
native kingdom of Mysore. Its length is 190 miles, 
and average breadth 60 miles, an area of 11,400 square 
miles—larger than the State of New Hampshire —with 
a population of about three millions. 


PHYSICAL FEATURES. 

The southern portion of the Mission district is low 
and level, and forms part of the slope from the Eastern 
Ghauts to the sea. The northern portion is broken 
into ranges of hills, some of which rise to a consider- 
able altitude. The Stations Palmanair and Madan- 


2 SKETCHES OF THE MISSIONS. 


apalle, which stand above the Ghauts, are situated at 
an elevation of 2,211 and 2,500 feet respectively above 
the level of the sea. The soi/is generally good, being 
in some parts red and gravelly, and in others sandy. 
The principal river is the Palar, the bed of which, half 
a mile or more in width, is dry except in the rainy sea- 
son. Tributary streams, together with artificial lakes 
called tanks, furnish the chief water-supply. 
CLIMATE. 

The climate is hot—hotter probably on the whole, 
than any other part of India. The average tempera- 
ture throughout the year is 84° F., but the mercury 
during April and May frequently rises above 106° in 
the house, and as high as 160° in the sun. Previous 
to the rains, which come with the N. E. monsoon in 
October and November, the country has a very arid 
appearance. “In May, June and July the grass is 
scorched up, vegetation droops, animal life suffers, 
rivers and tanks become dry, and hot winds, laden 
with dust, blow from the West. In August the heat, 
dust and glare are moderated by occasional heavy 
thunder showers ; but, a few days after the great rains ~ 
in October, the surface of the whole country becomes 
changed, as if by magic, from a naked, arid expanse to 
a sheet of varied luxuriant verdure.” 

NATURAL PRODUCTIONS. 

Rice is the staple product, being irrigated from 
tanks. Ragi, a coarse grain, as well as millet, maize 
and sorghum, are also extensively grown, and consti- 
tute the chief food-supply of the lower as rice does of 
the higher classes. Oil-seeds, indigo, tobacco and 
spices are the mainexports. The usual tropical fruits 
are found, the most abundant being plantains, limes 


ARCOT MISSION: INDIA. ° 3) 


oranges, mangoes, pine-apples and guavas. The prin- 
cipal trees are tamarind, mango, banyan, palmyra and 
cocoa-nut. As there is little or no forest in the Tamil 
district, few wild beasts exist. In the Telugu portion, 
however, bears, hyenas, wild-boar, cheetas, deer, ante-- 
lope and elk are not unfrequently seen. Monkeys and 
jackals are numerous in all parts ; lizards, snakes and 
scorpions are common; as are mosquitoes, white ants. 
and other insects. The domestic animals are cows, 
buffaloes, sheep and goats. Horses that are of any 
value are imported, and only kept by Europeans and 
wealthy natives. Oxen are used almost exclusively 
for draft purposes by the natives, and for travel. 
PEOPLE AND CASTES. : 

With the exception of about 25,000 Mohammedans, 
living chiefly in the towns, and a few Europeans and 
Eurasians (half-castes), the people of the district are 
Hindus; divided into three classes: Brahmins or 
Aryans, Sudras or Dravidians, Pariahs or out- castes. 

(1) The Brahmins, although but four per cent. of the 
population, are by far the most influential section. 
They divide themselves into two classes, religicus and. 
secular. ‘The former are devoted entirely to religious 
duties and officiate as priests to the Sudras ; the latter 
take up salaried appointments, chiefly under Govern- 
ment, but not such as require any manual labor. The 
intellectual professions are largely in their hands. Of 
the college graduates, 60 per cent. are Brahmins. They 
are decidedly a fine race. Well made, with finely- 
modeled lips and nose, fair complexion and high 
forehead, they stand out distinct from the rest of the 
Hindu population, superior in physical as well as 
intellectual endowments. 3 


4. SKETCHES OF THE MISSIONS. 


(2) The Sudras, who form 75 per cent. of the popu- 
lation, should not be confounded with the Sudras of 
North India, who hold a very inferior position. The 
Sudras of the South are virtually the people. They own 
the soil and till it; they are the artisans and trades- 
men. When the Brahmins came amongst them they 
were rude and ignorant. Through them they learned 
the arts and sciences, and many of them now possess all 
the intelligence and refinement of their teachers. Like 
the Brahmins, the Sudras are tenacious caste-holders. 
‘They are divided into more than a hundred different 
castes, such as agricultural castes, weavers, smiths, 
merchants, shepherds, potters, etc., the different castes 
not being allowed to eat, drink, nor intermarry with 
one another. Each caste is further divided into a 
number of classes, each of these classes subdivided, 
-and the process of division carried to such an extent 
‘that aman or woman is forced to marry among the 
amembers of 50 or 60 families. A man who violates 
caste rules is excluded from caste privileges. No one 
is allowed to give him work, water, food or fire, nor 
have any intercourse with him. Ile is thus either 
forced to relent or become an out-caste altogether. 

(3) The Pariahs* (Malas in Telugu), together with 
the ljeather-workers (Tel. madigas), constitute a nu- 
merous class, forming 20 per cent. of the population. 
Some have thought them aboriginal tribes anterior to 
the Dravidians; but the more common opinion is that 
they were originally Sudras, possibly some of them 
‘Brahmins, who for various offences were expelled from 
caste and reduced to their present condition by long 


* There are other inferior castes, but their number is so small that I 
thave included them all under the title of Pariahs. ; 


ARCOT MISSION: INDIA. . bd 


years of servitude. They are almost as dark as ne-. 
groes, but have straight hair, and generally their fea- 
tures do not differ from the Sudras. ‘Their condition 
is pitiable in the extreme, their status being scarcely 
removed from that of slaves. Some of them own land, 
but it is usually mortgaged up to its entire value, and. 
their cunning Sudra masters are careful that their 
property does not accumulate to such an extent as to 
make them independent of their control. They are 
assigned a place to live separate from the main por- 
tion of the village, into which no respectable Sudra 
will enter, and are made to perform all the menial ser- 
vices of the village. 
LANGUAGES. 

Tamil and Telugu are the prevailing languages: 
Tamil being spoken by two-thirds; and Telugu by 
about one-third, of the people. They are both culti- 
vated Dravidian tongues. Although greatly enriched. 
by the Sanscrit, to which they owe as much as English 
does to Latin, they originally existed independent of 
it, and are affiliated to the Scythian and not to the 
Indo-European family of languages. Tamil has the 
more extensive literature, but Telugu is more melli- 
fluous in tone and is called the Italian of India. A. 
peculiar interest attaches to the Tamil, in that it was. 
the language in which the Gospel was first preached 
in India, is spoken by the largest number of native 
Christians, has the largest Christian literature, and the 
best translation of the Sacred Scriptures. The lan- 
guage of the Mohammedans is Hindustani, but they 
also understand the vernaculars of the district. The 
majority of the educated classes know English, the study 
of which is becoming almost universal in the schools. 


7) . SKETCHES OF THE MISSIONS. 


| RELIGION. 

Hinduism is the religion of the people, the two lead- 
ing characteristics of which are idolatry and immo- 
rality, both the legitimate offspring of the pantheistic 
philosophy that forms the basis of the Hindu religion. 
United to this is the terrible caste system, which, like 
a huge anaconda, holds its victims with an awful grasp. 
Rom. i: 21-25 is an exact description of the religious 
and moral condition of the Hindus. 

VILLAGE SYSTEM AND CUSTOMS. 

The population is almost entirely rural. People 
live only in villages, containing from 500 to 1,500 in- 
habitants. Many of the so-called towns are merely 
groups of villages. The village consists of two distinct 
sections, separated a few rods from each other. In the 
larger and better portion live the high-castes, Brah- 
mins and Sudras, the former usually having a street 
to themselves. In the poorer and smaller portion live 
the Pariahs. The houses are mere huts with mud 
walls and thatched roof; the dwellings of the wealthy 
few having brick walls and tiled roof. A grass mat 
which serves for a bed, and a few earthen or brass, ves- 
sels, compose the scanty furniture. The food, con- 
sisting of boiled rice or ragi with curry (vegetables 
cooked with spices and ghee), is eaten with the fingers 
of the right hand. 

The ordinary dress of the man consists of two pieces 
of white cotton cloth three yards long, and a yard and 
a quarter wide, one piece being tied around the waist 
and reaching to the feet, the other thrown loosely over 
the shoulders. The better classes also wear a turban on 
the head. The dress of the woman is a single piece of 
woven cloth seven or eight yards long and one and a 


~ 


ARCOT MISSION; INDIA. 7 


quarter yard wide, one end being gathered round the 
waist the breadth reaching to the feet, and the other 
end carried gracefully over the shoulders. Jewels are 
an important part of the dress, especially of the females. 

The land that is cultivated, from 590 to 1,000 acres, 
lies around the village, a part being reserved for com- 
mon pasturage. The village has one or more large 
tanks or artificial lakes, which contain water for irrigat- 
ing the fields. These are constructed by throwing 
up embankments in places where there are depressions, 
with gates built for drawing off the water. The prop- 
erty of an average farmer consists of six or eight acres 
of land, two or three yoke of oxen, four or five cows 
and half-a-dozen sheep. Part of the land lies under 
the tank, and is used for the cultivation of rice or ragi, 
which requires daily irrigation. The remainder is re- 
served for dry crops, such as millet, maize and sorghum, 
which are brought to maturity by light showers. The 
farming utensils are very primitive, the plow being 
an iron-plated stick fastened to a crooked beam, and 
the harrow often nothing more than a piece of brush- 
wood ; the grain is harvested with a short sickle; is 
threshed with oxen, the cattle treading it out; and is 
winnowed by pouring it from a basket in the open 
air. Men, women and children work in the fields, the 
ordinary wages of a laboring man being six cents a 
day, and of women and children three cents. 

The village has three officers—Headman, Account- 
ant and Watchman, appointed by Government. The 
Headman, who has limited magisterial powers, is re- 
sponsible for the good order of the village and the 
collection of the revenues, there being a fixed assess- 
ment on all cultivated lands. The Accountant keeps 


8 SKETCHES OF THE MISSIONS, 


- the village accounts, and assists the Headman in col- 
lecting the taxes. The Watchman, who is usually 
a low-caste man, guards the village boundaries, 
watches the village at night, and acts as servant to the 
Headman. Besides these Government offices, which 
are hereditary and held on good behavior, each vil- 
lage has its own functionaries, such as the priest, 
astrologer, barber, washerman, carpenter, potter, etc., 
all of whom receive compensation fcr services ren- 
dered. 
MISSION OF THE REFORMED CHURCH. 

The Arcot Mission was organized in 1853 by Rev. 
Messrs. Henry M., William W. and Joseph Scudder. 
Previous to this time work had been done by other 
societies in the towns of Vellore and Chittoor, and a 
few converts gathered, who were subsequently. handed 
over to the care of our Mission. In 1885 two addi- 
tional Missionaries arrived, and in 1861 the force was 
increased to nine men, the largest number ever con- 
nected with the Mission. 

DIVISION OF TERRITORY. 


The method pursued is to divide the territory into 
parishes and distribute them among the Missionaries 
who occupy central points called stations, from which, . 
with their native assistants they seek to evangelize 
the district intrusted to them. The field, as at present 
(1886) apportioned among the Missionaries, is as fol- 
lows : 


Stations. Missionaries. 
aallore § Rey. J. W. Scudder, M.D. 
CHS Bey" eee ee | Miss Julia C. Scudder. 
Chittoori.asd eae .... Rev. J. W. Conklin. 


Arcot’ “jvsivnaw oes Rev. L. Hekhuis, M.D. 


ARCOT MISSION: INDIA. 9 


Stations. Missionaries. 
Arnaz aa Shorts) Revi HaCySeuddenr;‘dr. 
‘Tinditvanams. %.: hes Rev. John Scudder, M.D. 
Palmanhairiiaeteie. Vacant 
vier iva emp Rev. W. W. Scudder, D.D., 
Miss M. K. Scudder. 
Coonoor: Leenaieakn Hill Station. 


: Rev. J. Chamberlain, M.D., D.D., 
eee andy dU Wincott 


MODE OF LABOR. 


The command of the Master: ‘‘ Preach the Gos- 
pel,” is the foundation-stone of the Mission. Learning 
the languages of the people well, the Missionary enters 
in among the masses, carrying the Gospel message far 
and wide, distributing books and tracts. As most of 
the people live in villages, he spends a great part of 
his time in the district. Pitching his tent in a cen- 
tral village, he radiates from this point in company 
with native assistants, mornings and evenings, carrying 
the Gospel to all the villages that lie within the radius 
of four or five miles. Then changing his place of en- 
campment, he does the same in another circle of vil- 
lages, thus systematically “touring up” the whole 
district committed to his charge. Arriving in a vil- 
lage, he takes his stand in the principal street. A 
lyric is sung, or a few verses of Scripture read, to at- 
tract an audience. When a number of people have 
gathered, the native assistant begins to address them, 
telling them first the object of the visit, then speaking 
probably of the folly of idolatry, explaining the nature 
of the true God, the way of salvation through Christ. 
The Missionary then takes up the address and further 
unfolds the subject, enforcing and illustrating it by 


10 SKETCHES OF THE MISSIONS. 


quotations from their own writings, after the man- 
ner of St. Paul on Mars Hill. Questions are then 
asked, which opens the way for further explanation; 
after which, books and tracts are distributed. In this 
way the Gospel is carried to every town, village and 
hamlet throughout our district. — 

FORMATION OF CONGREGATIONS. 

After the Gospel has been repeatedly preached in 
a village, if any three or more families agree to 
abandon idolatry and place themselves under Chris- 
tian instruction, they are organized into a Christian 
congregation. A native Catechist is sent to the vil- 
lage, who takes up his residence with the people; a 
little school-house or prayer- house, costing $10 or $15, 
is erected, and in this building the people gather at 
night and are instructed in the fundamental truths 
of the Gospel, as well as in all the habits and usages. 
suitable to a Christian community. During the day 
the children assemble, and are taught secular and re- 
ligious lessons. If at the end of a year any of the 
congregation give evidence of being true Christians, 
they are baptized, and when there is a sufficient num- 
ber a church is organized. It is in this manner that 
all the congregations in our Mission have been formed. 

NATIVE ASSISTANTS. 

Native agents employed by the Mission are classi- 
fied as follows: Native Pastors, Catechists, Assistant 
Catechists, Readers. A Native Minister is put in 
charge of one large congregation, of which he has the 
pastoral oversight. He also labors more or less among 
the heathen. A Calechist is a man appointed to in- 
struct a native congregation. He assembles the adults 
for prayer and catechization, teaches the children, as 


ARCOT MISSION: INDIA. 11 


well as labors among the heathen in his own and 
neighboring villages. The distinction between a 
Catechist and Native Pastor is, that the former is 
not ordained, and so does not baptize nor administer 
the Lord’s Supper. Assistant Catechists are junior 
Catechists. Header is an indefinite title given to young 
men who have been but a short time in Mission ser- 
vice, or to older men who have received but little 
training. A Reader has charge of a small congrega- 
tion or school, and accompanies the Native Pastor or 
Catechist in preaching to the heathen. Graduates of 
the Arcot Seminary are classed as Readers on being 
admitted into Mission service. Catechists and Read- 
ers receive a fixed salary from the Mission, which is 
supplemented by aid from the people, chiefly in grain. 
The maximum salary of a Catechist is $90 per annum, 
and of a Reader $60. Native Pastors receive a maxi- 
mum salary of $150, at least three-fifths of which is 
paid by the native churches, and, if necessary, up to 
two-fifths by the Mission. Besides the above, the 
Mission employs teachers, who give themselves exclu- 
sively to school work. Their salary, which is deter- 
mined by the grade they have passed, is largely paid 
from school fees and Government grants. Wives of 
the helpers are frequently employed as school mis- 
tresses on a small salary of from $1.50 to $2.00 per 
mensem, to assist their husbands ; and also as Bible- 
readers, to visit the houses of the heathen and read 
and explain the Scriptures. 
SCHOOLS. 

“Evangelize first, educate afterwards,” is a funda- 
mental principle of the Arcot Mission; and although 
this rule has been departed from in recent years, espe- 


12 SKETCHES OF THE MISSIONS. 


cially in the establishment of high-caste girls’ schools, 
it still remains the governing policy of the Mission. 
But notwithstanding that schools are established 
primarily for Christians, nearly all of them are open 
also to the heathen, who freely attend them. 

Day Schools.—Eight Station and eighty Out-station 
(village) schools are connected with the Mission. In 
the latter, adults as well as children are under in- 
struction, the catechists doing the combined work of 
preacher and teacher. The village schools are very 
simple and elementary. The building, which answers 
also for a prayer-house, is rudely constructed with 
mud walls and straw roof. The only furniture is a 
small black-board a plain table, and one chair or bench. 
The children sit on the floor and learn the alphabet 
by writing with their fingers in the sand. The secu- 
lar lessons are usually limited to “the three R’s,” 
with a little geography and grammar. Religious 
instruction forms a large part of the curriculum. The 
Station day-schools are of higher grade and conducted 
more on the American plan. The building has brick 
walls and tiled roof, and is supplied with benches, 
tables and maps. The teacher has been well trained, 
and gives his whole time to the school work. Girls 
as well as boys are admitted into these schools. 
~ Boarding Schools.—The brightest pupils in the day- 
schools are sent to the boarding- schools, of which 
there are six in the Mission, as follows: Arcot Sem- 
inary, Chittoor, with 80 pupils ; Primary Department, 
Arcot Seminary, Arni, 29 pupils; Tamil Girls’ Sem- 
inary, Vellore, 61 pupils; Telugu Boyg Boarding- 
School, Madanapalle, 35 pupils ; Telugu Girls’ Board- 
ing-School, Madanapalle, 29 pupils; Preparandi 


ARCOT MISSION: INDIA. 13° 


School, Tindivanam, 28 pupils. The design of these 
institutions is the training of Native Agents for Mis- 
sion work. A large number of men and women have 
already been educated in them, and are now engaged 
in Mission service. Parents of pupils, who are able, 
pay one rupee (50 cents in silver) per mensem as school 
fee ; poor children and orphans are educated free. 
The cost of educating a boy or girl (board, clothing 
and tuition) is from $30 to $40, according to age. 

Schools for the Heathen.— Besides the day schools 
and boarding-schools for Christians, the Mission has. 
under its control the following schools, composed 
almost exclusively of high-caste heathen children: 
An Anglo-Vernacular Boys’ School at Tindivanam, 
143 pupils; an Anglo-Vernacular Boys’ School at 
Vayalpad, 83 pupils; an Anglo-Vernacular Boys’ 
School at Chetpett, 62 pupils. Two Hindu Girls’ 
Schools at Vellore, 193 pupils; one Hindu Girls’ 
School, at Tindivanam, 44 pupils; one Hindu Girls’ 
School, at Madanapalle, 40 pupils; one Hindu Girls’ 
School, at Arni, 52 pupils; one Hindu Girls’ School, 
at Coonoor, 50 pupils ; one Hindu Girls’ School, Chit- 
toor, 59 pupils. 

Daily instruction in the Bible is given in these 
schools by Christian teachers. The girls’ schools at Vel- 
lore are under charge of Miss Julia Scudder, and the one 
at Madanapalle under charge of Miss M. K. Scudder. 

id OTHER AGENCIES. 

Medical Wore is an important auxiliary to the Mis-. 
sion. Several of the Missionaries are certificated 
physicians, and have used their skill in medicine and 
surgery with excellent results. Many cases of con- 
version, in some instances of whole villages, have re- 


14 SKETCHES OF THE MISSIONS. 


sulted from this agency. The Mission has control of 
a large Hospital at Ranipett, with a Branch Dispen- 
sary at Wallajapett, under charge of Dr. Hekhuis, in 
which as many as a hundred patients are treated daily. 
No medicines are given out until the Gospel is first 
preached, and the influence of the institution in allay- 
ing prejudice and winning the confidence of the natives 
- cannot be overestimated. 

Colportage.—Three Bible and four Tract Colporteurs, 
supported by English and American Societies, canvass 
the district and sell Bibles and Tracts. The Native 
Helpers also carry books and tracts on their preach- 
ing tours. They are not given gratuitously except 
when touring in new fields. Full statistics are not at 
hand, but the Bible Colporteur at one station, last 
year sold 1,653 Bibles and portions ; and the Tract 
Colporteur, 2,248 Christian books and tracts. 

Free Reading-Rooms are kept at ali the Stations and 
are a useful agency in reaching the educated classes. 
Books and papers are furnished for perusal, and at 
least once a week an evangelistic service isheld. The 
average number of visitors at the Reading-rooms of 
four Stations last year exceeded 9,000. 

WORK FOR WOMEN. 

Hindu women are reached in three ways: By 
direct preaching, schools, and house-visitation. The 
zenana system does not prevail in southern India to 
any extent. Women go about freely, and in the vil- 
lages form a very considerable proportion of our 
audiences. In the large towns schools have been 
established, in connection with which house-visitation 
is carried on by the Missionary ladies and their female 
Assistants. 


ARCOT MISSION: INDIA. 15 


PUBLICATIONS. 
The Pubiications of the Mission are : 
“The Bazaar Book - or, Vernacular Preacher's 
Companion,” in Tamil. | 
“ Spiritual Teaching,” in Tamil and Telugu. 
“Jewel Mine of Salvation,” in Tamil and Telugu. 
“ Sweet Savors of Divine Truth,” in Tamil. 


These books, composed by Rev. Dr. Henry Martyn 
Scudder, and consisting chiefly of addresses to the 
Hindus on vital subjects, are of rare value. They 
are extensively used in southern India, and are an 
inestimable boon to vernacular preachers, furnishing 
them with many able arguments and apt illustrations. 
Through them Dr. Scudder is still preaching to 
thousands of natives in India. The following 
translations have also been published : 

‘Liturgy of the Reformed Church in America,” in 
Tamil, by Rev. Dr. H. M. Scudder. 

‘Liturgy of the Reformed Church in America,” in 
‘Telugu, by Rev. Dr. Chamberlain. 

“Heidelberg Catechism,” in Tamil,’ by Rov. Drs. 
H. M. and J. W. Scudder. 

“Bazaar Book,” in English, by Rev. J. W. Scud- 
der, M. D. s 

“Spiritual Teaching,” in English,” by Rev. J. W. 
Scudder, M. D. 

“Telugu Hymn-Book,” by Dr. Chamberlain. 

Rey. Drs. H. M. and J. W. Scudder and Dr. Cham- 
berlain have also done valuable work in connection 


with the translation and revision of the Tamil and 
Telugu Bible. 


16 SKETCHES OF THE MISSIONS. 


RESULTS. 

The results of thirty-two years’ labor may be sum- 
marized as follows : 

1. The Gospel has been preached, and in many 
places repeatedly, in nearly every village and hamlet 
throughout the district. .From carefully kept statis- 
tics, it is ascertained that more than four and a half 
millions of people have heard the Gospel through the 
Missionaries and their Native Assistants. 

2. Twenty-three churches have been organized, 
containing 1,610 communicants, representing ‘a Chris- 
tian community of 5,437 souls. The church members 
have more than doubled with each decade. Christian 
congregations exist in nearly 100 villages. The 
native Christians are making steady advancement in 
intelligence and refinement, and are beginning to 
make their influence felt for good among the heathen 
masses, Their contributions toward the support of 
their own institutions last year amounted to 1,816 
rupees ($908 in silver); and this in a country 
where the laboring man receives, at the most, 8 cents, 
and the artisan 25 cents, a day. 

3. Eighty-eight schools, attended by 2,313 pupils, 
have been established, and are now in operation. 
These are distinctively Christian schools, the Scrip- 
tures being systematically taught daily. Through 
them an educated Christian community is being de- 
veloped. 

4. A Native Agency, consisting of 4 Pastors, 35 
Catechists, 34 Readers, 15 Christian School-masters, 
24 School - mistresses, and 11 Female Bible-readers, 
has been raised up, and is now employed by the Mis- 
sion. Asa proof of the value of this agency, it need 


ARCOT MISSION: INDIA. LE 


only be stated that while during the last twenty years 
the congregations and schools have increased four- 
fold, the Foreign Missionary force remains the same, 
the additional work being effected by Native Helpers. 

5. The attitude of the higher castes towards the 
Missionary and his message has undergone a favor- 
able change. Abuse and ridicule of the preacher has 
almost entirely ceased ; books and tracts are gladly 
received and read; children are freely sent to the 
Mission schools; thousands are convinced of the 
falsity of their religion, and of the truth of Christianity ; 
and a general impression that Christianity will ulti- 
mately triumph prevails. 

6. Nor is the change in the attitude of the higher- 
castes towards the Native Christian community less 
marked. Christians are no longer the despised and 
persecuted body they once were. Their children at- 
tend the same school, sit on the same seat, and read 
from the same book with Brahmins. As the native 
Church advances in intelligence and moral strength, 
the high-caste heathen are attracted by the unity and 
brotherly love of its members. 

Such are some of the direct results, but who can 
estimate the indirect results? The general awakening 
of thought throughout the whole empire; the revo- 
lution that Hindu society is undergoing ; the relaxa- 
tion of caste; the yearning for a purer faith on the 
part of many. The organization of the Brahma Somaj 
in the north; the recent movement to restore the 
purer religion of the Vedas in the south ; the forma- 
tion of societies to promote female education, widow 
-ye-marriage, and other social reforms in every part of 
the country: how can these be accounted for except 


18 SKETCHES OF THE MISSIONS. 


by the spread of Christian principles, which are arous- 
ing the consciences and quickening the religious sense 
of the Hindus. The palmy days of Hinduism are 
past, never to return. The Brahmins are fast losing 
their hold upon the people. The leaven of Christian 
truth is now entering the mass of the native com- 
munity. Faith in India creeds and philosophy is. 
being shaken, and is giving place to inquiry and 
serious thought. The Sun of Righteousness is ris- 
ing, and shining more and more unto the perfect day. 


Such being the case, let the Reformed Church rise 
to her duty and privilege, and with redoubled zeal go 
forward with the work entrusted to her. Never was 
there such an opportunity before our beloved Zion 
as now. God is calling more loudly than ever for 
laborers to gather the ripened harvest. Shall we not 
obey His call, and help to hasten the coming of the 
Redeemer’s kingdom in India ? 


ARCOT MISSION : INDIA. 


19 


STATISTICS OF MISSIONARY PRO- 
GRESS IN INDIA BY DECADES, 


FROM 1851 TO 1881. 


1851. 

Male Missionaries.......... 339 
Female Missionaries. .....] ..... 
NativesPastors. fs es 21 
Native Lay Preachers...... 493 
Native Christians.......... | 91,092 
Communicants. noc Le 14,661 
Native Christian Teachers: 

Males uae. oe ce be roe aa 

Homalesin te. . os sciences hse est 
MPALOCPUPLISA tas os se oc 52,850 
HemalecPupiis ie. isch ces 11,193 
Motals Raps @ haascs sae 64,043 
Contributions of Native 

Christiane. ee cons. leo sarc: 


1861. 


1871. 


J 


1881. 


479 


see eee es 


60,026 
15,969 
75,995 


488 
370 
925 
1,985 
224,258 
52,816 


1,901 
837 
95,521 
26,611 
122,132 


za eee seer] - ee eeere 


586 
479 
461 
2,488 
417,372 
113,325 


3,841 
1,643 
131,244 
56,408 
187,652 


$60,964 


The rate of increase in the native Christian population 
from 1851-1861 was 52 per cent.; from 1861-1871, 61 per cent. 


and from 1871-1881, 803 per cent. 


In communicents the in- 


crease was 70 per cent. from 1851-1871; 111 per cent. from 


1861-1871, and 1603 per cent. from 1871-1881. 


ot re, 


x 

't3 
7 
“ 
i 

me 
- 

Wwe 


Fen I He ef Cdl 
ae eel oe 


a aie ves ae yy © 
7 : wd 
Beat gig 


a is ‘ 


detail axes sLaobdy rte rie tiles ait 
SOU te. EYAL ft teak hier 
elroy tate ike. ah a in sa 109 AEA 


ek 21h beg Area fi a a 
rae 


hs ol, deer tae ii 


| 


